Extended bearing lubrication method and apparatus

Claim 2

In a bearing assembly having a stationary element and a rotary element and including bearing surfaces therebetween, an improved extended life lubricating apparatus for supplying oil to the bearing surfaces comprising: a solid support surface on the rotary element which faces the axis of rotation and is spaced a radial distance from it less than or equal to the radial distance of said bearing surfaces from the axis of rotation, lubricating oil reservoir means consisting of a self-supporting lubricating grease mass comprising a gelled structure and a lubricating oil releasably trapped in the gelled structure releasable therefrom in response to a predetermined oil release shear stress carried on the support surface out of contact with the bearing surface subject to the centrifugal force of the mass against the support surface of a magnitude at least sufficient to apply the predetermined oil release shear stress to said grease mass but of a magnitude less than the predetermined yield stress of said gelled structure at the interface between said grease mass and the support surface for releasing oil therefrom at the base of the mass onto the support surface, and oil flow path means from said support surface to said bearing surface for conducting the released oil propelled by centrifugal force to the bearing surface.

Claim 3

The lubricating apparatus of claim 1 in which the support surface is defined on a removable annulus carried by the rotary element.

Claim 4

The lubricating stem of claim 2 in which the support surface is foraminous to permit released oil flow through it.

Claim 5

The lubricating apparatus of claim 1 in which the stationary element is a shaft and the rotary element is a housing surrounding it, and the oil flow path means from the support surface is defined by a rotary element surface contiguous with the bearing surface.

Claim 6

The lubricating apparatus of claim 1 in which the rotary element is a shaft and the stationary element is a housing surrounding it, and the oil flow path means from the support surface includes a portion of the surface of the stationary element radially beyond the support surface and contiguous with the bearing surface.

Claim 7

The lubricating apparatus of claim 5 in which the support surface is in a cavity within the shaft.

Claim 8

The lubricating apparatus of claim 5 in which the support surface is in a removable annular cage carried on the shaft.

Claim 9

In a wheel bearing assembly having a stationary axle carrying an inner bearing race and a rotary housing carrying an outer race with rolling bearing members between them, the improvement comprising: grease support surface means in the housing facing the axis of rotation at a radius therefrom equal to or less than that of the outer bearing race for supporting a mass of lubricating grease, said lubricatinG grease mass comprising a gelled structure and a lubricating oil releasably trapped in the gelled structure releasable from the gelled structure in response to a predetermined oil release shear stress applied to the lubricating grease mass which is less than the predetermined yield stress for deformation of the gelled structure, out of contact with the bearing races against the centrifugal force developed upon rotation of the housing of a magnitude at least sufficient to apply the predetermined oil release shear stress to said lubricating grease mass but of a magnitude less than the predetermined yield stress of the gelled structure at the interface between said lubricating grease mass and said grease support surface means, and released oil transfer path means in said housing contiguous with the bearing surface of the outer race having a component in the direction of the centrifugal force for conducting released oil under centrifugal force to the outer race to lubricate the bearing.

Claim 10

In a wheel bearing assembly having a stationary axle carrying an inner bearing race and a rotary housing carrying an outer race with rolling bearing members between them, the improvement comprising: grease support surface means in the housing facing the axis of rotation at a radius therefrom equal to or less than that of the outer bearing race for supporting a mass of lubricating grease, said lubricatinG grease mass comprising a gelled structure and a lubricating oil releasably trapped in the gelled structure releasable from the gelled structure in response to a predetermined oil release shear stress applied to the lubricating grease mass which is less than the predetermined yield stress for deformation of the gelled structure, out of contact with the bearing races against the centrifugal force developed upon rotation of the housing of a magnitude at least sufficient to apply the predetermined oil release shear stress to said lubricating grease mass but of a magnitude less than the predetermined yield stress of the gelled structure at the interface between said lubricating grease mass and said grease support surface means, and released oil transfer path means in said housing contiguous with the bearing surface of the outer race having a component in the direction of the centrifugal force for conducting released oil under centrifugal force to the outer race to lubricate the bearing.

Claim 11

In a wheel bearing assembly having a rotary axle carrying an inner bearing race and a stationary housing carrying an outer bearing race with roller bearing members between them, the improvement comprising grease support surface means carried by the axle facing the axis of rotation at a radius less than that of the outer bearing race for supporting a mass of lubricating grease; said lubricating grease mass comprising a gelled structure and a lubricating oil releasably trapped in the gelled structure releasable from the gelled structure in response to a predetermined oil release shear stress applied to the lubricating grease mass which is less than the predetermined yield stress for deformation of the gelled structure out of contact with the bearing races against centrifugal force developed upon rotation of the axle of a magnitude at least sufficient to apply the predetermined oil release shear stress to said lubricating grease mass but of a magnitude less than the predetermined yield stress of the gelled structure at the interface between said lubricating grease mass and said grease support surface means, and released oil transfer path means in said housing contiguous with the outer race for receiving released oil transferred thereto under centrifugal force and conducting it to the outer race to lubricate the bearing.

Claim 12

In a wheel bearing assembly having a rotary axle carrying an inner bearing race and a stationary housing carrying an outer bearing race with roller bearing members between them, the improvement comprising grease support surface means carried by the axle facing the axis of rotation at a radius less than that of the outer bearing race for supporting a mass of lubricating grease; said lubricating grease mass comprising a gelled structure and a lubricating oil releasably trapped in the gelled structure releasable from the gelled structure in response to a predetermined oil release shear stress applied to the lubricating grease mass which is less than the predetermined yield stress for deformation of the gelled structure out of contact with the bearing races against centrifugal force developed upon rotation of the axle of a magnitude at least sufficient to apply the predetermined oil release shear stress to said lubricating grease mass but of a magnitude less than the predetermined yield stress of the gelled structure at the interface between said lubricating grease mass and said grease support surface means, and released oil transfer path means in said housing contiguous with the outer race for receiving released oil transferred thereto under centrifugal force and conducting it to the outer race to lubricate the bearing.

Claim 13

In the assembly of claim 9 the axle being hollowed to define the grease support surface means with the axle and the axle being apertured to permit the passage of released oil to the oil transfer path means in the housing.

Claim 16

The method of claim 11 in which the solid surface is part of a removable annulus carried by the rotary element and the annulus is packed witH the gelled lubricant.